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The 2-8-0 Consolidation Type Steam LocomotiveThe Consolidation Type was a highly successful steam locomotive design of the latter half of the 19th century that would eventually replace the American Type, 4-4-0 wheel arrangement. The new Consolidation, a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement, allowed for more tractive effort with two additional driving axles and thus could haul much heavier trains than the American design.
The first Consolidation purchased from a manufacturer was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and delivered to the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1866. While sales for the Consolidation Type were initially slow after design flaws (like the rigid front truck) were worked out the 2-8-0 sold quite well (beginning in the 1870s), so well in fact that when production for the model finally ended, over 33,000 had been built! The 2-8-0 design was a significant technological leap from the American, 4-4-0 wheel arrangement. The Consolidation, with its two extra driving axles and front pilot truck could not only pull trains that were twice as heavy but also run at speeds fast enough to be used in any type of passenger service. For instances, railroads such as the Baltimore & Ohio, Pennsylvania, and others, which operated in mountainous territory found that the Consolidation Type performed exemplary over stiff grades. The leading steam locomotive design of the day that the Consolidation Type would replace, the American Type, can be given overwhelming credit, more than any other steam locomotive design before or since its development, for helping the United States flourish beginning in the latter half of the 19th century.
Not only did the new American Type offer much better horsepower, tractive effort, and reliability it also signaled the way steam locomotives were to forever be built in the future with the boiler mounted horizontally (instead of vertically) and a smoke stack situated at a ninety-degree angle to the boiler at the front of the locomotive to expel the smoke and cinders. The 4-4-0 design also featured greater protection for train crews with an entirely enclosed cab (save for to the rear) on the back of the boiler. In the subsequent years the American Type was improved upon and featured better traction, power, and an overall larger design (such as an increase in its boiler size). The 4-4-0 design proved to be just what the railroads needed during the latter half of the 19th century in their quest to build west and move larger and heavier trains. While Americans quickly lost their luster during the final decade of the 1800s as more powerful locomotives took their place such as Ten-Wheelers (of the 4-6-0 wheel arrangement) and Consolidations (of the 2-8-0 wheel arrangement) they had done their duty in pioneering steam locomotive design and development (some 4-4-0s remained in service into the 1940s, over 100 years after the design was initially conceived!). Today, several Consolidations have been preserved across the country including a number of which are still in operation, such as Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s #734.
Also, consider the book American Steam Locomotives from author Brian Solomon. Solomon's book is filled with excellent photography and information on steamers covering 160 pages and looks at many of those most best remembered steam locomotive designs such as Pacifics, Ten Wheelers, Berkshires, and Mallets. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.
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